Origins of the Music

There is a current trend of “piecing together” a musical, using the greatest hits of a pop group or artist, keeping the original words from the songs and creating a loose storyline around them: Mamma Mia, We Will Rock You, Taboo and Buddy are just a few examples.

Geoff Lavelle bucks this trend. His approach of taking the music of one Europe’s great musical geniuses (Schubert) and transmogrifying it into 21st century styles is a truly unique and remarkable one. The results are inspired, and the melodies and harmonies immediately appealing to the modern ear. Providing the perfect match for this outstanding music are John Dixon’s lyrics - sophisticated, witty, poignant, moving, gritty – without ever being sentimental.

Schubert was a prolific composer during his short life (he died in 1828, aged only 31). He composed around 600 lieder (songs), as well as symphonies (including the famous Unfinished Symphony), piano music and chamber music, and his melodies and harmonies will endure for ever. A Liver Bird Sang! is Geoff’s homage to his genius, and he has lovingly preserved these superb melodies and harmonies whilst giving them modern rhythms and styles. John’s up-to-the-minute lyrics about the human condition together with the backdrop of today’s Liverpool club scene complete the transformation. Here are some examples of how the original songs have been changed.

Gretchen am Spinnrade (Margaret at the spinning wheel)

Ungeduld (Impatience)

Sonata in A (D664) 2nd Movement (Piano Sonata)

Der Müller und der Bach (The Miller and the Brook)

Die Forelle (The Trout)

Rosamunde (Rosamund)

Vier Impromptus (D899 - #4)

® BUNS OF STEEL (Rock Ballad)

® ROUND LIVERPOOL (City Anthem)

® ALL THROUGH THE YEARS (Duet)

® KILLARNEY ROAD (Folk Ballad)

® THE LIVER BIRD JIVE (Lindy Hop)

® BACK IN THE CITY OF LIVERPOOL (Irish Jig)

® THE SALSASAMBATANGOMAMBO JAMBOREE

(with the interrupting REVENGE TANGO) (Latin-American)